this post was submitted on 31 Jul 2024
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In any language, any one of us has certain words or phrases they like to say.

For me, in English, that includes “bedazzled” and “thingamagick” among others.

Howrver, is there some kind of overarching expression for these words? I can’t think of anything in English or my native German, and a quick Internet search didn’t find anything.

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[–] Deebster@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 month ago (3 children)

I can't find a suitable word in English, but I'm shocked and dismayed that German doesn't have anything we could steal.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 20 points 1 month ago (2 children)

No problem. Just make one up!

Sprechspaßwort = speak fun word

Alternatively Sprachspaßwort, meaning language fun word.

I think I like the latter.

[–] 667@lemmy.radio 4 points 1 month ago

This is the real value of agglutinative languages. We sort of try it in English but it doesn’t always work. I don’t speak German, but I recognize the word roots.

[–] dfyx@lemmy.helios42.de 3 points 1 month ago

Sprachspaßwort sounds like something straight out of a law or industry standard which I guess that makes it heterological.

[–] janNatan@lemmy.ml 18 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

We could always make one up. Zungenfreude, tongue joy.

Der Spruch „Vielseitig” hat mir immer Zungenfreude bereitet.

Saying "versatile" always gave me tongue-joy.

Edit: it's pronounced "tsoong-en-froy-duh"

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 2 points 1 month ago

Spaßredewort.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 17 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] fx3@beehaw.org 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I love that, will use it. Thanks!

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 8 points 1 month ago (1 children)

They've also been called "cellar doors", as when Tolkein said "in Welsh, for me cellar doors are extraordinarily frequent"

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Feel like this is an indirect reference to Donnie Darko.

[–] pruwybn@discuss.tchncs.de 3 points 1 month ago

Tolkien was known to be a big Donnie Darko fan.

[–] frightful_hobgoblin@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

This is your brain on pop culture.

[–] Diddlydee@feddit.uk 11 points 1 month ago

Definitely 'Euphonic' meaning 'sounds good'.

[–] Admetus@sopuli.xyz 7 points 1 month ago

I love the word 'kerfuffle'.

[–] ff0000@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 month ago

Can't think of a word, but want to add 'automagically' to that list.

[–] ValiantDust@feddit.org 5 points 1 month ago

I can't think of any.

But I'm a bit sad that the French-originating Bonmot is already taken in German (meaning a witty one-liner). It would have been a nice allusion to Bonbon (candy), like words that taste nice.

[–] apotheotic@beehaw.org 5 points 1 month ago

If earworms are things that you hear that get stuck in your head, perhaps this could be "mouthworms". Sounds delightful I hate it.

[–] aninnymoose@lemm.ee 5 points 1 month ago

I don't speak Spanish but I love the word "El sacapuntas" which sounds like a bad word but means pencil sharpener.

[–] HamsterRage@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)
[–] plumcreek@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

A perfectly woody sort of word!

[–] HamsterRage@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

Thank God somebody got it.

[–] plumcreek@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago

Thither

It's just so fun to say.

[–] Philote@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 month ago

Wouldn’t it be a catch phrase?

[–] Drusas@kbin.run 2 points 1 month ago
[–] demoman@lemmy.one 2 points 1 month ago

Serendipity

[–] Dark_Dragon@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 month ago
[–] MeetInPotatoes@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

Joycabulary.